Writing Workshop - X
I've been fairly regular to the writing workshop since January this year. I guess, I definitely needed the job to channel my ideas :) I have atleast 4 stories to post here but I want to start with the one I wrote tonight. Everyone liked it and also I loved writing this one :)
Prompt: "What's the most you've ever paid for something you didn't want?"
This should be fun, I told myself as I picked up The Pocket Muse. It was a small hard bound book in blue-grey with a black spine. 'Endless Inspiration' , the caption claimed. Considering how little I had written in the past few weeks, I felt I could do with some outside help.
"That will be $30.99, Ma'am," said the cashier. Man! It sucks to be in Canada*. I went home, cleared the coffee table and placed The Muse on it. Now it will beckon me everyday, willing me to write instead of being a couch potato.
Two weeks passed.
"Aren't you going to atleast open the book?" asked The Mr, amusement writ all over his face.
"How do you know I haven't? You're anyway never home in the mornings," I countered, though I knew he was right. I've barely gone past the spine.
"I need a new notebook and a fountain pen. I write better with fountain pens." With that I picked the book and moved it to the study. who ever writes sitting at the coffee table? Plus he rarely walks into the study. I can write undisturbed.
The next evening when The Mr entered the study, I was at my writing desk with a beautiful green fountain pen and brand new Van Gogh leather journal by that famous boutique. He stood over me as I calligraphed(is that a verb?) my name - 'Pon. Chidambarakumari'.
"Looks like your name will need a new book all by itself," he joked.
"Very funny," I smirked.
"So how much did all this cost?"
"$10"
"Really?"
"Plus another 20 odd dollars" I mumbled under my breath and then added, "Creativity is priceless," my voice a tad shrill.
The Mr smiled an all-knowing smile and walked out. I opened The Muse. The 'About The Author' section ran for some 4 pages. What? Who cares about her? Show me The Muse, woman! Realizing this wasn't going to work, I closed the book and re-opened it on a random page.
Page 82: 'Second Follow Up Notice from The Department of Procrastination Prevention'.
I wrote it down neatly in my journal. I shifted myself in the chair, draped my legs over the left arm of the chair, closed my eyes and just sat there. In Anticipation.
The next thing I knew there was a loud noise. I opened my eyes and found the journal on the floor. I must've fallen asleep. I picked up the journal and looked at the prompt. What kind of lame ass prompt is that? And they paid her to publish this? I arranged the journal and The Muse neatly on the desk and walked out. I needed new cushions for the chair.
A pair of silk cushions, a new Feng Shui book, Art for the wall, 2 CDs of inspirational Bach and a box of cookies later, I was back where I started. The Mr greeted me with a raised eyebrow, as I entered the living room. Darn it! How does he do that?
I cleared my throat and announced, "I am going to be a painter."
* Writer's License.
The Missus says: Treat piece as fiction.
The Mr says: Fiction? What about the Muse which is gathering dust since last year :D And the incomplete 'paintings' piling up in the corner of our study?
Prompt: "What's the most you've ever paid for something you didn't want?"
This should be fun, I told myself as I picked up The Pocket Muse. It was a small hard bound book in blue-grey with a black spine. 'Endless Inspiration' , the caption claimed. Considering how little I had written in the past few weeks, I felt I could do with some outside help.
"That will be $30.99, Ma'am," said the cashier. Man! It sucks to be in Canada*. I went home, cleared the coffee table and placed The Muse on it. Now it will beckon me everyday, willing me to write instead of being a couch potato.
Two weeks passed.
"Aren't you going to atleast open the book?" asked The Mr, amusement writ all over his face.
"How do you know I haven't? You're anyway never home in the mornings," I countered, though I knew he was right. I've barely gone past the spine.
"I need a new notebook and a fountain pen. I write better with fountain pens." With that I picked the book and moved it to the study. who ever writes sitting at the coffee table? Plus he rarely walks into the study. I can write undisturbed.
The next evening when The Mr entered the study, I was at my writing desk with a beautiful green fountain pen and brand new Van Gogh leather journal by that famous boutique. He stood over me as I calligraphed(is that a verb?) my name - 'Pon. Chidambarakumari'.
"Looks like your name will need a new book all by itself," he joked.
"Very funny," I smirked.
"So how much did all this cost?"
"$10"
"Really?"
"Plus another 20 odd dollars" I mumbled under my breath and then added, "Creativity is priceless," my voice a tad shrill.
The Mr smiled an all-knowing smile and walked out. I opened The Muse. The 'About The Author' section ran for some 4 pages. What? Who cares about her? Show me The Muse, woman! Realizing this wasn't going to work, I closed the book and re-opened it on a random page.
Page 82: 'Second Follow Up Notice from The Department of Procrastination Prevention'.
I wrote it down neatly in my journal. I shifted myself in the chair, draped my legs over the left arm of the chair, closed my eyes and just sat there. In Anticipation.
The next thing I knew there was a loud noise. I opened my eyes and found the journal on the floor. I must've fallen asleep. I picked up the journal and looked at the prompt. What kind of lame ass prompt is that? And they paid her to publish this? I arranged the journal and The Muse neatly on the desk and walked out. I needed new cushions for the chair.
A pair of silk cushions, a new Feng Shui book, Art for the wall, 2 CDs of inspirational Bach and a box of cookies later, I was back where I started. The Mr greeted me with a raised eyebrow, as I entered the living room. Darn it! How does he do that?
I cleared my throat and announced, "I am going to be a painter."
* Writer's License.
The Missus says: Treat piece as fiction.
The Mr says: Fiction? What about the Muse which is gathering dust since last year :D And the incomplete 'paintings' piling up in the corner of our study?
Labels: 'True' Fiction, Humour, Writing Workshop
posted by Kumari at 9:26 PM
9 Comments:
Sooper, this was!
faabulous! esp. the lsst part! :D
Typed out a loong comment to prev post yest, but lost it :( Gist: totally relate to what you say, but woman, let them non-reading types be :-) Doesn't make them lesser mortals does eet?
@Shirsha : Thankooooo :)
@Shub: Muchas Gracias. Oh, i never claimed they are lesser mortals. Sorry if my post gave that impression. But i just didn't want to be ridiculed as a weird woman and as someone who 'wasted time' reading instead of cooking for her husband. After the 3rd time, it does get under your skin :)
That was a real good one :) I bet that train ride gives you plenty of story ideas too
Good one! This reminds me of the Harry Potter books I have (Part 4,5). I have never read them, though I pestered my DH to buy it the at the time it was released. So, he has refused to buy HP6 until I finish off the last 2.
It is not that I don't like Harry or I don't like reading. It is just that it never clicked with me :)
Lovely post this!
And it also reaffirms my belief that self-help books and their authors do make tonnes of money cos there are always suckers like us who'd fall for their spiel.
My bookshelf still has a few books to inspire one to write, direct, do yoga etc. And like you, I've never really opened them and got past the first few pages before getting super bored.
Or maybe, I'm just too lazy :(
And yes, I can never get people who don't read!
I mean...why not? And isn't this supposed to be the information age and all that...?
Tsk Tsk
great piece. loved the humor :)
erm... it sucks to be in Canada? Good thing you put down Writer's License at the end. lol
Nice post!:) You do have a way with words.
@Sandeepa: Oh it does, it does :) Thanks :)
@Manchus: You must be the only one I know who buys the Potter books and then doesn't read them :p Others have outright denied their existence but not like this :) Hope u get to it someday, it ain't that bad :)
@Vij: Well, i guess one needs to somehow make a living and as long as 'we' exist, they shall too :) I don't understand this 'I don't read at all' stance either.
@Balaji: Thank you:)
@Vee: Thankoo and hope you are doing good :) Aah well for someone from Nashua who hardly pays any tax, to come and pay 15% for every ourchase does seem like lot :p Hence the phrase. Otherwise, The Mr and i absolutely love Canada :)
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